If you’re planning an employee relocation and getting your home ready for sale, maximizing its appeal to potential buyers is crucial. A beautifully presented home not only enhances its value but also reduces the time it spends on the market, reduces your moving stress and helps you cope with the stress of your relocation. To help you in getting your home ready for sale, TRC Global Mobility has twelve tips to spruce it up and captivate potential buyers.
“Curb” Appeal is Key
The exterior of your property creates the first impression for potential buyers and plays a huge part in its salability. If your driveway is old, a resurfacing will bring it back to life. Pay attention to walkways and replace any broken bricks or stones while patching any cracks in the cement. Consider repainting your house or fence if the existing paint appears chipped or tired. Revive the look of your deck by applying a fresh coat of stain. Finally, consider replacing your welcome mat to add a warm touch and make your house truly feel like home.
Pay Attention to Exterior Decor
When getting your home ready for sale, make sure your lawn is neatly manicured, and your property is free of any overgrown vegetation. Keeping a well-tended garden and having an inviting entryway can further enhance your home’s overall appeal. To add an extra touch of charm, consider adding beautiful potted plants or vibrant flowers near the entrance, infusing a delightful burst of color that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who visits. These small yet impactful details can make a substantial difference in the overall perception of your home, enticing potential buyers and making them feel welcome from the moment they arrive.
Declutter Your Space
An appealing home starts with the crucial step of decluttering. Begin by removing unnecessary items to create a feeling of spaciousness. Find a balance between a lived-in look and cleanliness, allowing personal effects to reflect the character of the home while also enabling potential buyers to envision themselves in the space. By paying attention to these details, you can transform your home into a welcoming and enticing environment.
Depersonalize Your Space
When potential buyers visit your home, they want to envision themselves living there. This can be difficult if the space is cluttered with personal photos and items. To create a blank canvas for their imagination, consider keeping the décor neutral and impersonal. This doesn’t mean it has to be bland or unattractive; instead, focus on creating a welcoming ambiance that allows potential buyers to picture their own style and personality shining through.
Deep Clean Everything
Creating an inviting living space starts with a spotless home. Every corner should radiate cleanliness, from the pristine windows that let in natural light to the immaculate floors that invite guests to step in with confidence. Pay special attention to the bathrooms and kitchens, as these areas often face the most scrutiny. For a thorough job, you might even consider enlisting the services of professional cleaners.
Don’t Forget About Smells
Unpleasant odors have the power to instantly repel potential buyers, so it’s crucial to keep a fresh-smelling home. This can be achieved through regular cleaning, ensuring proper ventilation by airing out the house and using discreet air fresheners strategically placed throughout the property. Additionally, to create a warm and inviting ambiance, consider baking cookies or brewing a fresh pot of coffee just before showings to fill the air with comforting scents that evoke a feeling of home.
Freshen Up the Paint
Enhance the allure of your home by applying a fresh coat of subtly toned or neutral paint. Not only will this give the space a renewed look, but it also provides an excellent opportunity to remove family photos and patch nail holes. By doing so, prospective buyers are presented with a pristine canvas that allows them to visualize living in the home. Don’t forget the details, such as tending to the trim and doors. These small yet significant touches will elevate the overall aesthetic of your home and leave a lasting impression.
Look at Your Floors
Aged or stained carpet can be quite off-putting. Consider hiring professional cleaning services if it can be restored, or opt for a neutral-colored replacement. If your home has hardwood floors hidden beneath the carpet, unveil their natural beauty by removing the carpet altogether. Additionally, make sure to replace any cracked tiles. This attention to detail ensures that your floors will be in pristine condition and contribute to an overall visually appealing environment for prospective buyers.
Make Minor Repairs
Taking care of minor repairs, such as fixing leaky faucets, tightening loose doorknobs, or lubricating squeaky doors, can make a significant impact on prospective buyers. Even though these issues may seem trivial, addressing them shows attention to detail and enhances the overall appeal of your property, making it more enticing for potential buyers. Taking the extra step to ensure your home is in top-notch condition shows your commitment to delivering a well-maintained property.
Update Lighting Fixtures
Good lighting can truly transform the ambiance of your home, making it feel warm, inviting, and cozy. To achieve this, consider replacing any outdated fixtures with modern and stylish ones that match your decor. Additionally, ensure that all bulbs are in proper working order, as even a single flickering light can disrupt the overall atmosphere. In darker areas, you may want to think about strategically adding extra lamps or light sources to brighten up the space and create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Invest in Small Upgrades
While major renovations may not always yield a high return on investment, small upgrades and thoughtful details can significantly add value to your space. For instance, consider updating cabinet handles with stylish and modern designs, upgrading faucets to ones that offer both functionality and aesthetics, or changing light fixtures to create the perfect ambiance. In the bathroom, a fresh and visually appealing shower curtain, along with a set of luxuriously soft towels, can instantly elevate the overall look and feel. Don’t forget to complete the transformation with a clean, brand-new bathmat. With these small yet impactful improvements, you can truly work wonders in transforming your living space.
Stage Your Home
Home staging can be a transformative process that goes beyond making your home more appealing; it’s about creating an immersive experience for potential buyers to envision the full potential of the space. This involves strategically rearranging furniture to maximize flow and functionality, adding delightful touches like fresh flowers or attractive artwork to create an inviting ambiance, and ensuring that every room has a clear and well-defined purpose, leaving no doubt about the possibilities that await.
Getting your home ready for sale before a relocation requires time and effort, but the potential payoff can be substantial. By investing in presenting your home in its best light, you can attract more buyers, increase the chances of selling quickly, and potentially even secure a higher selling price. Remember, the goal is to create a welcoming and inviting space where potential buyers can easily envision their future home. Learn more about the employee relocation process.
